Unit recorder



Ot. 7, 1941. A. G. BEAL AUNIT RECORDER Filed oct. 19, 1939- I5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 7, 1941.

A. G. BEAL Filed Oct. 19, 1959 UNIT RECORDER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2,

aa a1 kD O3 INVENToR Arthur ,eal

M ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE UNIT asconnsn ArthurG. Beal, Foxboro, Mass., assigner to The Foxboro Company, Foxboro, Mass., l. corporation of Massachusetts 'Application october 19, 1939, serai No. 300,122

2 Claims.

from a rigid, heavy casting, to the bottom or sides oi' which are secured the instrument elements, such as the operating elements for the index or pen-arms and associated parts. While instru.

ments so assembled have in general proved satisfactory, they have certain disadvantages, as their cost of manufacture is relatively'high and the assembly work is difficult.

The present invention contemplates a novel and improved mounting for 'the instrument parts which is independent of the casing 'which thus functions only as a cover for the unit. By the contemplated arrangement a casing may be provided for each mounting unit or instrument, or several units may be mounted in a common casing, or several units may be mounted on a common panel and housed within a single protective cover. Accordingly this improved construction permits of greater adaptability and convenience than those embodied in recorders of conventional design, and may be utilized to advantage.

By reason further of the unit natureof the assembly which requires a casing only for protective purposes, the casing can be made of light-weight material whereby the overall weight of the in strument including the casing is materially reduced, without sacrificing in any way the required rigidity.

'I'he contemplated movement assembly mounting further; provides an arrangement by which a plurality of pen-arms or pointers 'may be mounted on the mounting plate to turn on a common center of motion, the plate and assembly being such that a one arm movement assembly may be built up in simple and convenient manner to an assembly providing' for the movement of a greater number of pen-arms, as by converting a one-record instrument to a four-record instrument, for example. It is also proposed to mount the operating element or elements (helical pressure spring) on a support integral with the rigid mounting plate when the position of the spring or springs is standardized; but in cases where their positions are not standardized or where additional elements arerequired for a particular installation, the supports for the springs are such that they can be secured in .simple manner to the under side of the rigid plate,

Other objects will be in part obvious and in plate. the plate part hereinafter pointed out in connection with 55 the following analysis of this invention wherein are illustrated certain embodiments of the invention in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a face view of an assembly mountingplate supporting a one-pen unit recorder;

Figure 2 is a cross-section along lines 2-2 of Figure 1, the housing casing being associated with the back section thereof;

Figure 3 is a detail illustrating the manner of building up a one-pen movement assembly as illustrated in Figure 2 to a four-pen movement assembly;

Figure 4 is a further modification illustrating a multi-pen assembly in which the operating link for one pen extends over the clock motori Figure 5 is illustrative of a modified form of mounting for an operating element;

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the casing illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 5 but with the ends of the pressure spring shaft reversed in relation to their respective bearings.

In the drawings, like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views. Reference is made to the unit instrument shown in Figures 1 and 2 thereof which, for purpose of simple description, s a recorder incorporating asingle index' or pen-arm. This instrument includes a suitable assembly or mounting plate ID which in the construction illustrated is circular and of sufiicient thickness to provide a rigid support for the instrument elements mounted thereon. Preferably the plate is provided for strengthening purposes with a peripheral iiange Il and reinforcing cross-ribs I2, the flange and ribs extending from the rear face of the plate. The front :face of the plate provides a backing for a rotating chart i3 driven by a, clock motor i4, secured against the rear of the plate by a plurality of headed screws i5 whose heads seat in reentrant portions shown as recesses or depressions I6 formed in and opening to the front of the A chart driving hub ila extends through from the clock and is provided with suitable chart clamping facilities for holding and driving the chart.

Also carried by the plate and on the rear face thereof is an index or pen-arm operating element i8 which may be responsive to a thermometer bulb (not shown) or to a pressure-sensitive systern (not shown), but in either instance the responsive element I8 comprises a curved tubular spring which is hollow and which expands or contracts in the known manner to changes Within it. As shown in the drawings, the responsive element is helical and is connected by a capillary tube I3 with a thermometer bulb (not shown). The helical spring member is secured at one end but its other end is free to move. The movement is guided by a shaft which is connected to the free end and is pivoted at one end in a removable bearing support 2| carried by a bracket member 22 preferably cast integrally with the plate I0 to extend from the rear face thereof. The other end of the shaft 20 is journaled directly inthe rear face of the plate.

The operating element I8 is adapted to actuate a lever or crank 23 having one end secured to shaft 28. A link 24 extends from the other end of lever 23 and is connected with a U-shaft 25 Whose axis of rotation is the center of motion for an index and pen-arm 25 arranged to move over the front face of the plate I0 and chart I3.

The cross part of the U-shaft 25 extends through a cut-out or notch I1 in the periphery of the plate Iii and its front leg is pivoted as `at 33 in the inner end of a bracket plate 21. The other or outer end of the bracket plate is secured by the spaced screws 28 and 29 to two bosses 30 and 3i, respectively, which are cast integrally with the plate adjacent the peripheral notch I1 to extend from the 4front face thereof. Cast with the plate to extend rearwardly thereof are bosses 30a and Sia which are aligned axially with the bosses 30 and 3l. A common bore extends through bosses 30 and 30a and the intermediate plate i0. Similarly a common bore extends through bosses 3| and 3| a and the intermediate plate. The bosses 30a, 3Ia on the under side of the plate I0 are not used with a one-pen movement assembly but provide means for mounting bracket plates on the under side of the plate I0 as necessary when building up a number of penmovement assemblies as will be described hereinafter.

Also extending from the rear face of the plate i0 and preferably lcast therewith is a boss 32 which is preferably hollowed out to receive the pivot 34 for the rear leg of shaft 25.` The boss 32 is positioned to underlie the pivot 33, the pivots 33, 34 being coaxially related and constituting the axis of rotation of the shaft 25 and hence of the pen-movement assembly.

By reference to Figures l and 2, it will be seen l that the link 24 extends sidewardly of the clock motor I4, the position of the operating element I8 being established in such a known position as to permit the link to be so accommodated. For a known or established position of the operating element the bracket member 22 is cast integrally with the plate I0 as illustrated.

The pivots 33 and 34 provide a fixed axis for the pen movement assembly in relation to the axis of chart I3. Minor adjustment of said axis of chart I3 is provided for in the mounting of the clock motor which determines the position of hub I4a and therefore the axis of said chart. As shown in Figure 2, plate I0 has openings 38 of larger diameter than that of the shanks of screws I5. Thus, when said screws extend through said openings in position for fastening the motor to plate I9 as above described, the p0- sition of said screws in said openings may be varied laterally, thereby allowing corresponding adjustment of the position of the motor.

It will be understood that the operating or responsive element I8 responds to changes in the condition being measured to turn shaft 2l, the motion of which is transmitted through element lever 23, link 24, and U-shaft 25, to arm 28 which in the embodiment shown carries a pen for recording this movement on chart I3, all as generally disclosed in the Bristol et al. Patent No. 1,778,702, dated October 14, 1930. If desired, a micrometer adjustment mechanism 31 operative between the front leg of U-shai't 25 and pen-arm 26 maybe provided, which may be that described in patent to E. H. Bristol No. 1,283,395, dated October 29, 1918. With the Operating element I8 and the clock motor I4 carried by and at the rear side of the plate, and with the movement assembly utilizing the plate as an integral part thereof, it will be seen that the present invention provides a self-contained instrument unit as distinguished from instruments of conventional design which utilize a heavy cast casing as a support for the instrument elements.

Where more than one pen-arm or index arm is needed, the movement assembly as above described and as shown in Figures l and 2 may be modified as desired. Figure 'lliustrates a-fourpen movement assembly evolved therefrom to provide for movement of the additional pen-arms 50, 5I and 52, for example. Pen-arm 50 is actuated by U-shaft pivoting with reference to an outer bracket plate 56 spaced from the bracket plate 21 by spacing bushings 51, and an under bracket plate 58 flxedly secured against the cast bosses 30a and 3Ia, described previously. In similar manner the additional pen-arm 5I is actuated through a -Ushaft SII pivoting in an outer bracket plate 6I and an under bracket plate 62,

v the plate 8i being spaced from'plate 56 by spacing bushings 83 and the plate 52 being spaced from plate 58 by the spacing bushings 64. Like- Wise the fourth and relatively outer-most penarm 52 is arranged to pivot in outer bracket plate 88 and under bracket plate i1, such plates being spaced from plates 6I and 62, respectively, by spacing bushings i8 and 89. The relatively short screws 28 and 29 of the Figures 1 and 2 construction have been replaced by elongated screws 28a and 29a which extend through the bracket plates 66, 6I, 5E and 21, and the bushings 51, 63, and 68 separating the same, and are threaded into the plate bosses 30 and 3 I. In similar manner screws 1II and 1I secure the under bracket plates 61, 52 and 58 and their spacing bushings 89 and 54 to the plate bosses 30a and 3Ia extending from the rear side of the plate III.

As with the construction illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the multi-arm movement assembly illustrated in Figure 3 incorporates the plate I0 as an integral part of the movement assembly and provides a fixed common center of rotation for the pen-arms 26, 50, 5I and 52. Even with the four-pen movement of the Figure 3 construction, this center of motion is maintained in the desired correct position due to the fact that the coaxlally arranged pivots on which the pen-arms turn are maintained relatively close to the plate I8 which provides the mount for the assemblies.

In the Figure 3 modification as described, the operating elements for the shafts 25, 55, 58 and 55 (which correspond in function to the arm-operating element or pressure spring I8 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2) are so disposed that the links 24, 1I, 14 and 15, which extend between the elements and the U-shafts take up position to the,

side of the clock motor I4. The responsive or operating elements cannot be stacked one on top of the other and so must be separately mounted on the moimting plate. Where the responsive elements are iarer and so occupy more room, it may be advisablethat one or more of the connecting links between the responsive elements and the operating U-shafts pass over the clock motor rather than alongside it and the construction shown in Figure 4 illustrates the manner by which this arrangement may be carried out. In such a modified arrangement links 2l and 13 with their U'shafts 25 and 55 correspond to like num` bored parts illustrated 1n Figure 3, the links 24A and 'i3 extending sidwardly of the clock to their related operating elements (not shown). A third link i8 is disposed to extend across the clock to transmit movement of an additional operating element tov a U-shaft 19:, the rear pivot 84d of which extends through a bracket plate 88 whose position is determined by the relatively long spacing bushings substituted for the screws i8, 'il of the Figure 3 construction andy secure bracket pia-te d@ in proper position while at the same time securing 7oracle-:t plate to the bosses No, Sia. With linir iii extending overthe clock motor M the iieiicai spring or responsive operating element itc actuating the lint". would he reversed, as shown in Figure sind connection effected between. the limit.; 'iii and the rear end of the operateiement sheit (rather than the forward end as .in iigurfes. i and 2), whereby o substantially direct connection. is cih-tained between the pivot of the movement assembly andthe orgia-l shaft ci the actuating pressure spring or operating elemerit io.

The hraciret support i12 for the operating ele nient iii is shown in Figure 2 as cast integraily with piste iii toestond from the rear side thereoi when the position of the operating element is Wire-o. it is desired to add additioriai known. movement assemhiies and the operating eleed one?, sup `rte therefor, as brackets in i' i, W may he secured by st the un mounting plate as- .igure 2',v details being o end aY. Such a casing ine, hacia s coicr section-generally indicated at 9|. sections may ohrioated from suitable lightweight metai formed to the desired shape as by a stomping operation.

fifijaent the forward or outer edge of the back der face of the plete iii tion @u and hinged thereto af These cognate top 91 through which the index or pen-athis may' be viewed without requiring opening of the cover Long screws 50s, Ha are Sii struction in. which the proteetivr vidusii to recorder unit is l section.

Figures 6 and 'I show a hinge construction be-` tween the back and cover sections of the casing, which includes spaced hinge ears |00 and 02 extending outwardly from an arcuate strap |03 secured to the outer face of the hack section a sumcient distance to register with hinge ears IM i recorder to a wall support or mounting panel., the

haci; section s@ of the casing is piaceri. seainst the wafii or narici st the desired ioeation there-l upon screws tti?P accessible from wit in the casing hacia section., are threaded through. the back. waii thereo into the sup-portion; surface. The instrument unit comprising piste and. the in strimierit elements mounted thereon es aforois next positioned in cosineopening; to

against the fastening hrccirets F, .securing screws are thereupon dires 'ed through the piste crochets to secure ire instrument es iiiustrated iii Figure 2,

iii/"hilo in Figure there is a con? derstood that a piurslity ci s. enclosed within e common ce rial modification., and also thee recorders described may he directiy on a supporting panel. with. t on ces ing thereupon Serengeti about e units to the pcriei hy mean ent oi? the unit securing: ses., the will; se fabricated roi ciiuivaient, us distinguished from t Y ocstirigs necessary to recorders eonvcntionai section QG, spaced angle brackets 92 are prov ,Y

vided. one fiange of which is secured as by welding to the inner casing wail and the other flange extending into the section enclosure to provide o. seat against which seats the plate flange ii. The positioning of the fastening brackets 92 is such that the outer or forward face of the plate extends fiush with the forward edge of the casing section. iiecuring screws S3 are threaded through the plate iiange and the inwardly directed flange oi the brackets 92 to secure the piate to the casing.

The cover section of the casing comprises spaced inner and outer rings 95 and 96, respectively, the lower end of the inner ring 95 'being -ent outwardly to seat against the peripheral edge portion of the plate i0, the lower edge of the outer ring 96 being pressed against the termiriai lower edge ofthe ring 95 and lapping the upper edge of the rear or back casing section 90. The inner and outer rings of the cover section are provided with inwardly directed or radial flange portions between which is disposed a glass design, and the weight ci? the entire ossemhiy ac cordiiigly wili he greatly reduced.

is many changes' could be mode in carrying out the above constructions without 'departing from. the scope of the iiwerrtion= it is intended that sil matter contained in the shove descrip tion or shown in the accompanying drawings shali he interpreted as illustrative and not in a iimiting sense.

l: claim: f

` "i a device of the class .wherein a chart ron tetes in relation to a defiectable arno mounted at one side of a mounting piate with one end movable in an arc across said chart and the extent ci said movement is controlled py variations in the condition of a. responsive element mounted at the other side of said mounting plate? the corro` oination of a fixedbearirig at one side of said mounting plate and another iixed bearing at the opposite side thereof and co-axiai with said first fixed hearing, a U shaft mounted in said bearings, said deectable arm being secured to one leg of said U shaft. a bracket on said mounting plate presenting a bearing having a. fixed relation to said bearings of said U'shaft, said responsive element having a shaft mounted between said bearing of the bracket and saidmounting plate, one end oi. said shaft being operatively connected to said U shaft, and a clockmechanismniounted on the same side of the mounting plate as the responsive element and having a chart driving hub extending through an opening in said mounting plate, said clock being secured to said plate by attaching means extending through said plate and adjustable in relation thereto for centering said chart carrying hub in operative relation to the axis of the U shaft.

2. A mounting for instrument assemblies of the kind wherein a clock mechanism including a chart driving hub rotates a chart and a responsive element actuates an arm across said chart, comprising a rigid chart supporting plate having a central opening, a clock mechanism supported at the rear face of said plate and having achart 15 driving hub, an element supporting bracket pro. .iecting from said rear face, an arm actuating element supported on said bracket, an element actuated arm having a fixed pivotal axis supported by said plate, said plate also having reentrant recessed portions and openings through said portions, and fastening means extending through said openings and laterally adjustable therein to secure said clock mechanism to the rear face oi' the plate in a position whereby said chart driving hub of said clock mechanism extends through said central opening of the plate and is adjustable in relation to said fixed pivotal axis of said arm.

ARTHUR G. BEAL. 

